The cobbled classic phase of the Women’s WorldTour continues on Sunday with Gent-Wevelgem, this year rebranded and renamed as In Flanders Fields - from Middelkerke to Wevelgem.
The name might be different, but the parcours remains similar, with the riders having to take on five cobbled climbs in total: the Monteberg, Scherpeberg, Baneberg, and two ascents of the famous Kemmelberg.
In recent years, these bergs have not been enough to deny the sprinters, with four of the last five editions ending in group sprints. And that could well be the case again this year, considering there will be two less climbs this time.
That’s reflected in a start list that features most of the best sprinters in the world, all of whom will fancy their chances of taking what is one of the biggest classics of the season. But the nature of the route means that attackers are always in with a chance too, so we can expect a typically exciting, aggressive and unpredictable race.
CONTENDERS
LORENA WIEBES
Lorena Wiebes is human after all! The Dutchwoman’s astonishing unbeaten run in sprint finishes that had stretched all the way back to the Tour de France Femmes of August 2024 at last came to an end when she got boxed in during the finale of Ronde Van Brugge on Thursday, which, having also be denied victory by attackers at both Omloop Nieuwsblad and Milan-Sanremo, means she’s on a relative lean patch by her unique standards. She’ll be expecting to put that right at Gent-Wevelgem. This is a race she loves, winning both the last two editions, and the absence of her teammate Lotte Kopecky means that, unlike at Milan-Sanremo, she will have the whole of her SD Worx-Protime team united behind her.
Wiebes won Gent-Wevelgem for the second time last year (Image: Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com)
ELISA BALSAMO
A near miss behind surprise victor Carys Lloyd (Movistar) means Elisa Balsamo’s long run without a win since June last year continues. Second-place is a position the Italian is used to finishing, especially when Lorena Wiebes is involved; in fact, Wiebes is the only thing that has stood between Balsamo and victory in each of the last two Gent-Wevelgem editions. Figuring out how to defeat her Dutch rival will be Balsamo’s main prerogative, but she does know how to win here having done so in 2022, and has the backing of a strong Lidl-Trek line-up that also features Anna Henderson, Lucinda Brand and Emma Norsgaard.
Balsamo finished second at Gent-Wevelgem in 2025 (Image: Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com)
CHARLOTTE KOOL
In a straight sprint, arguably only Lorena Wiebes has the beating of Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech) making her a leading candidate for victory in what is typically a sprinter’s Classic like Gent-Wevelgem. The question is, how can she recover after the climbs? In previous editions she has survived them, but perhaps lacked some freshness, finishing third in 2025 and fourth in 2024. And although she had been enjoying good form this spring, with a victory at Omloop van het Hageland and runner-up finish at Nokere-Koerse, her shape is now in doubt following a crash at Ronde Van Brugges.
Kool won Omloop van het Hageland in February (Image: Getty Images)
KARLIJN SWINKELS
One of the most-improved and in-form riders in the peloton, could Karlijn Swinkels cause a surprise at Gent-Wevelgem? The Dutchwoman followed second place at Trofeo Oro in Euro with a maiden World Tour classic victory at Trofeo Alfredo Binda, and, in the absence of Elisa Longo Borghini, will be granted more freedom by UAE Team ADQ to ride for herself again. Though she has a decent sprint, to win against this field she will likely need to attack, but given the way she’s been riding recently, can’t be written off from succeeding in doing so.
Swinkels won Trofeo Alfredo Binda earlier in March (Image: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
CAT FERGUSON
It feels like only a matter of time before Cat Ferguson claims a victory of the calibre of Gent-Wevelgem. The 19-year-old has been picking up multiple victories in smaller races as well as high placings at World Tour events, most recently fourth place at Omloop Nieuwsblad. Capable of sprinting fast, but also of going out on the attack, Ferguson is the kind of rider who has the potential to excel at a race like Gent-Weveglem, so could follow in the footsteps of her (injured) Movistar teammate Marlen Reusser, who won here three years ago.
Ferguson was fourth at Omloop Nieuwsblad in February (Image: Pim Waslander/Soccrates/Getty Images)
OTHER CONTENDERS
In the event of a bunch sprint, there are many riders who will fancy their chances of high finishes, and possibly a win. No sprinter has won more races this year than Ally Wollaston (FDJ United-SUEZ), and only Wiebes beat her in the sprint of the chasing pack at Milan-Sanremo. Similarly, few riders are faster than Chiara Consonni (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) in a sprint, and has form in this race having placed third in 2024.
Thursday’s sprint at Ronde van Brugges threw up a few surprises, and the success of winner Carys Lloyd (Movistar) and third-place finisher Nienke Veenhoven (Visma-Lease a Bike) means they must now be considered candidates for victory at Gent-Wevelgem, although this race presents considerably more challenges than that one with its cobbled climbs. Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal Team), Lara Gillespie and her UAE Team ADQ) teammate Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini are also in-form sprinters to keep an eye on.
Veenhoven is an up and coming sprinting star (Image: Visma-Lease a Bike)
As for those hoping to avoid a sprint finish, Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-SUEZ) is a relentlessly attacking rider on a massive high having recently tasted the biggest win of her career at Strade Bianche, while Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic-PostNL) is always one of the best performers on the cobbles.
PREDICTION
We're backing Lorena Wiebes to go back to winning ways and claim another Gent-Wevelgem title.
